Construction Skills and Innovation Centre
The Construction Skills and Innovation Centre (CSIC), located in Cannington, Somerset was built in partnership between Bridgwater & Taunton College and EDF Energy, and is a unique and vast training facility in close proximity to Hinkley Point C.
Training and up-skilling constructors and civil engineers, CSIC replicates a real-life construction site, with industry-standard plant, machinery and equipment. Construction site behaviours and standards are learned alongside specific technical knowledge and skills. Accommodation is available for candidates travelling from across the country and we have a full support team ready to assist with travel and bookings.
The centre provides national skills training and Apprenticeships for construction, civil engineering and nuclear new build, specialising in steel fixing, formwork, groundworks, water utilities, lifting, operating, and a large number of plant CPCS disciplines.
CSIC is the UK's leading civil engineering training centre, offering bespoke training products to employers across the UK. It has proved to be life-changing for many candidates who have progressed through the skills-set offered.
Plant Operations
CSIC delivers a wide range of Plant Machinery training courses for CPCS cards, with a wide variety of plant machinery available for use on-site at CSIC.
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CPCS Cards and Training
We are a CPCS approved Test Centre! The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is the construction industry's largest plant card scheme, providing skills cards for the plant sector of the Construction and allied industries.
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Steel Fixing
CSIC is the UK's leading Steel Fixing training provider. CSIC delivers a full range of steel fixing qualifications, from pre-employment training and Apprenticeships to fast-track NVQs for experienced steel fixers. CSIC has worked with End-Point Assessment Organisation NOCN to provide Steel Fixing Apprenticeship End Point Assessments at the centre. CSIC has outstanding EPA results for the steel fixing programme, with the UK's highest level of achievement for the Apprenticeship standard.
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Formwork
CSIC delivers a range of accredited Formwork qualifications and has worked with End-Point Assessment Organisation QFI (Qualifications for Industry) and major construction supplier Mabey to facilitate the first ever Formwork Apprenticeship EPAs. CSIC has outstanding EPA results for the formwork programme, with 100% of candidates who have taken the EPA passing with strong grades.
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Apprenticeships
An Apprenticeship programme provides an individual (school leavers aged 16+ and adults) with an opportunity to train in a particular industry and gain a National Recognised Qualification, whilst receiving a salary as an employee of a company.
In our recent Ofsted inspection our Apprenticeship provision was rated Outstanding, with Ofsted inspectors stating that “Apprentices develop an extensive range of skills and knowledge and many extend and deepen specialist skills beyond the requirements of their qualifications.”
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
An NVQ is a work-based way of learning, and based on national occupational standards. Each NVQ level involves a range of on-the-job tasks and activities that are designed to test you on your ability to do a job effectively.
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Groundworks
For construction labourers and groundworkers who are looking to learn the trade and achieve a formal qualification as a groundworker. CSIC delivers the Groundworker Apprenticeship Standard, at our 8-acre construction training facility.
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Water Utilities
Recently awarded Ofsted ‘Outstanding' in Apprenticeships, CSIC is one of the UK's leading water utilities training providers. We offer the Water Network Operative Apprenticeship standard, and a range of commercial water utilities qualifications, including Network Construction Operations, electro and butt fusion courses and operative and supervisor Streetworks programmes.
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Health & Safety
At CSIC we run a number of Health & Safety courses specific to the construction industry, as well as those valuable across all businesses. We are a CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) approved Test Centre! We are also a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Health & Safety Test centre.
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Water Utilities
Recently awarded Ofsted ‘Outstanding' in Apprenticeships, CSIC is one of the UK's leading water utilities training providers. We offer commercial and Apprenticeship training services, delivered both on site and at our specialist water utilities training arena.
The water utilities arena contains an excavated H trench system which allows candidates to work on a live main, utilising ductile iron, MDPE, PVC and cast iron to perform a range of water utilities tasks. Candidates have the opportunity to complete a huge range of service laying activities, live mains tappings, moling and main laying tasks.
Formwork Arena
CSIC delivers a range of accredited Formwork qualifications, and has worked with End-Point Assessment Organisation QFI (Qualifications for Industry) and major construction supplier Mabey to facilitate the first ever Formwork Apprenticeship EPAs.
This EPA achievement demonstrates how BTC works with employers, industry specialists, community organisations and awarding bodies to develop and deliver innovative, accredited training and Apprenticeship programmes that fully address the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and industry behaviours that combine to create professional, work-ready individuals.
The Formwork Arena at CSIC consists of a series of concrete platform infrastructures, where training is adapted to represent typical workplace scenarios, providing bespoke training in formwork operations. Learners capture ‘live' assessment evidence by means of helmet-mounted ‘Go-Pro' cameras as they complete each task.
All of BTC's Formwork and Steel Fixing apprentices who have undertaken the EPA have achieved a 100% success rate!
Steel Fixing Arena
CSIC delivers a full range of accredited Steel Fixing qualifications, from pre-employment training and Apprenticeships to fast-track NVQs for experienced steel fixers, and has worked with End-Point Assessment Organisation NOCN to provide Steel Fixing Apprenticeship End Point Assessments at the centre.
In response to demand from major construction companies who require steel fixers to have CSCS cards to operate on site, CSIC offers a range of courses so that workers can prove their competence.
The realistic working environment – the Steel Fixing Arena – consists of a series of platforms, where courses are adapted so that training represents a typical workplace.
Candidates can construct steel cages to form pile caps, beams, walls, columns, and suspended slabs up to 12x12m suspended 2m above the ground. The platforms are staggered down the sloping site, surrounded by landscaped banks with a central access track.
The Steel Fixing Arena also has concrete infrastructures and over 400 tonne of steel to facilitate bespoke training in steel fixing operations – one of the critical skills for the nuclear new build – enabling steel fixing training to be delivered via large-scale, practical team-based tasks. Learners capture ‘live' assessment evidence by means of helmet-mounted ‘Go-Pro' cameras as they complete each task.
CSIC's team are industry professional trainers and assessors, who are passionate about delivering the very best training. This, combined with this state-of-the-art facility, ensures some of the highest completion rates in the country.
All of BTC's Formwork and Steel Fixing apprentices who have undertaken the EPA have achieved a 100% success rate!
Plant Machinery
CSIC delivers a wide range of Plant Machinery training courses for CPCS cards. Plant training includes: A09 Forward Tipping Dumper; A17 Telehandler; A31 Ride on Roller; A40 Slinger/Signaller; A56B Dump Truck; A59 360 Excavator; A61 Appointed Person; A62 Crane Lift Supervisor. Plant machinery is available for use on-site at CSIC, with practical training taking place around the vast CSIC outside area, as well as within the classroom for theory training.
Construction Live
Construction Live! is innovative and exciting, and best of all, it's real!
This dynamic programme that takes place at the Construction Skills and Innovation Centre (and also remotely during Covid times), and has been specifically designed to provide a hands-on experience of planning, managing and implementing a range of construction projects in a safe, yet ‘live' construction environment. See our separate Construction Live pages for further information.
Speak to us about our Apprenticeship programmes, courses and training days. Contact us via our enquiry form – we look forward to hearing from you.
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